Interlaboratory evaluation of a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction method for identification of salmon and trout species in commercial products.

This interlaboratory study evaluated a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for identification of salmon and trout species in a range of commercial products in North America. Eighty salmon and trout products were tested with this method by three independent laboratories. Samples were collected in the United States and Canada, and only the collecting institution was aware of the species declaration. Following analysis with real-time PCR, all three laboratories were able to identify species in 79 of the 80 products, with 100% agreement on species assignment. A low level of fraud was detected, with only four products (5%) found to be substituted or mixtures of two species. The results for two of the fraudulent products were confirmed with alternate methods, but the other two products were heavily processed and could not be verified with methods other than real-time PCR. Overall, the results of this study show the usefulness and versatility of this real-time PCR method for the identification of commercial salmon and trout species.

A multiplex PCR method for the identification of commercially important salmon and trout species (Oncorhynchus and Salmo) in North America.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to develop a species-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method that allows for the detection of salmon species substitution on the commercial market. Species-specific primers and TaqMan® probes were developed based on a comprehensive collection of mitochondrial 5' cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) "barcode" sequences. Primers and probes were combined into multiplex assays and tested for specificity against 112 reference samples representing 25 species. Sensitivity and linearity tests were conducted using 10-fold serial dilutions of target DNA (single-species samples) and DNA admixtures containing the target species at levels of 10%, 1.0%, and 0.1% mixed with a secondary species. The specificity tests showed positive signals for the target DNA in both real-time and conventional PCR systems. Nonspecific amplification in both systems was minimal; however, false positives were detected at low levels (1.2% to 8.3%) in conventional PCR. Detection levels were similar for admixtures and single-species samples based on a 30 PCR cycle cut-off, with limits of 0.25 to 2.5 ng (1% to 10%) in conventional PCR and 0.05 to 5.0 ng (0.1% to 10%) in real-time PCR. A small-scale test with food samples showed promising results, with species identification possible even in heavily processed food items. Overall, this study presents a rapid, specific, and sensitive method for salmon species identification that can be applied to mixed-species and heavily processed samples in either conventional or real-time PCR formats. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides a newly developed method for salmon and trout species identification that will assist both industry and regulatory agencies in the detection and prevention of species substitution. This multiplex PCR method allows for rapid, high-throughput species identification even in heavily processed and mixed-species samples. An inter-laboratory study is currently being carried out to assess the ability of this method to identify species in a variety of commercial salmon and trout products.